Art education is perhaps one of the most undervalued curricula in modern public school systems. Visual arts has been the focus of many academic studies, the results of which suggest that art is crucially linked to the development of core human emotions such as passion, empathy, love, sincerity and happiness. Art also helps kids develop communication and self-expression skills. It leads to higher performance across a range of educational disciplines, and encourages self-discipline, time-mangement, imagination, innovation and spacial reasoning. For very young kids, the practice of hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, language skills, and connectivity is invaluable. If the thought of tackling art with your kids scares you, don’t be intimidated! How do we best supplement the art education they receive at school? With hands-on application of course! Here are 8 genius ideas for easy art activities they’ll love!

1. Life Size Self Portraits. You’ll need an extra large sheet of paper for this project! Kids will have a ball creating an artistic version of themselves! Lay the paper on the floor and trace around your pre-schooler. Have them paint or draw themselves. You could make this as interactive and detailed as you want – use construction paper, fabric, yarn, ribbons and glue along with crayons and paper. You can find instructions here. Depending on your child’s age, you can include a short description and explanation of the self-portrait and a bit about the history to round out their art lesson.

2. Tasty Color Mixing. Introduce kids to the primary and secondary colors with this delicious activity! All you need is vanilla frosting, food coloring, plastic knives and sugar cookies. Help the kids make frosting in different colors, mixing the food coloring to create new shades. Explain how mixing two specific colors will always yield the same result. In the end, you get to eat your creations for snack, so this is a surefire favorite! Get fell details here.

3. Marble Art. Creating marble art is a great introduction to Jackson Pollock and his contemporaries! You can show kids examples (Like this one) of this famous artist, then create your own look-alikes! Simply place a piece of paper in a tray or bin (that is easily washed). Place small dabs of different colored paint here and there – use tempera or other washable/non-toxic paint – and throw in some marbles. The kids can tip the tray this way and that, making the marbles run through the paint and creating trails of color, splatters, and fun mixtures. This is one kids of many ages will love, as the groove, sway and flip those balls around on the tray!

4. Wax Resist Watercolor. A wax resist watercolor painting is easy to create, and fun for kids of all ages. Here’s a full tutorial for making a monet-inspired wax resist painting. Simply have them color a picture using a white crayon on a white piece of paper. Nothing shows up! Then have them use watercolors to paint over the paper – all of the white lines will appear! Preschoolers and kindergartners will think it’s like magic! If you’d like to include some information about impressionism, here’s a good resource for a slimmed down summary.)

5. Construction Paper Collage. A collage is a simple and fun form of artistic expression. Little hands love the freedom involved in cutting and pasting to their hearts content. All you need is construction paper, child-safe scissors and glue or glue sticks. Have your children cut shapes from different colors of paper. Then layer them however they’d like on a blank piece of black or white paper, gluing the pieces down one at a time. This doubles as great cutting practice as well as a study of Matisse. If your little one becomes frustrated with scissors, it’s a good idea to have some shapes already cut as backup. You can find instructions for this Matisse-centered art project and information about the artist here.

6. Fruit and Veggie Stamps. Printmaking is tons of fun for kids of all ages. It’s also a well-known art form with famous printmakers including Andy Warhol, Hans Baldung, Ernst Haeckel, and Hokusai. (Here’s a link to images of famous prints, so you have an idea). To introduce kids to printmaking, all you really need is stamps and paints! For preschoolers and kindergartners, printing with produce is an incredible experience. They’ll be intrigued and amazed that the food they eat can make such fun shapes! Gather together a few different vegetables, a large piece of paper and some tempera or other washable paint. Some good ideas for vegetables are: apples, bell peppers, smaller peppers like poblanos, potatoes, and okra. Cut the vegetables in half to create an interesting edge. Have your child dip the end in paint of their color choice, then stamp it on their paper. Here’s an awesome example of okra printing with a tutorial!

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest,Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

Family game night is the perfect way to brighten up a dreary week and get kids of all ages excited about spending time together. If you find yourself breaking out the same games over and over, chances are good that you’re all getting a little bored. Break up your plain old game routine by introducing some fun and clever games into your rotation! It can be hard to figure out which games will engage a variety of ages, but it’s not impossible to find some new favorites. Here are our top 15 family-friendly games you’ll love to play – along with the old favorites you’re already using!

1. Hedbanz – In this fun take on a classic guessing game, players must take turns asking yes or no questions as they race to be the first to figure out what they are as represented by the card on their heads. They’re using their heads in more ways than one and are bound to get a little goofy as they call out questions and answers.

2. Qwirkle – It’s not fast-paced or loud, but it IS perfect for teaching patterns, color and shape recognition. Kids will also learn reasoning skills, strategy and tactical play. All you have to do is lay down tiles matching in color or shape and build off of the pieces already placed. It’s a winner with all ages as it is simple enough in rules for young players, but can be more advanced based on strategical thinking.

3. Spot It or Spot It Jr. – Between any two cards in the deck, there is a matching picture (seems impossible but it’s true!). Just spot it quick to win the pair! The deck of cards comes with a rule book for different games you can play with the same cards, so it’s 5 games in 1! It enhances visual perception skills, powers of observation and attention to detail, but it’s not a complicated game which makes it perfect for players young and old!

4. I Can Do That! Card Game– Join that lovable character, The Cat in the Hat in an activity-filled card game that will be sure to have kids laughing! Just flip over three cards to reveal a new challenge. Can you crab walk to the bedroom with the fish under your chin? Can you dance around a chair with the fish between your knees? There are hundreds of hilarious possibilities in store. It encourages self-confidence and self-esteem, promotes early reading skills and gets kids up and on their feet.

5. Suspend – Here’s a game that’s great for a group or a solitary player! This balancing act is an exciting and intriguing way to work on hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, cognitive thinking and cooperation. Roll the colored die to determine what game rod you’ll add to the fray. Decide where to place it on the frame rods attached to the wooden base to ensure you make it to the next round. Suspend as many as you can before the whole thing become unbalanced!

6. Set– Set is a visual perception game that’s easy to learn and challenging to win! The rules and concept are simple enough for kids, but the practical application is challenging enough even for adults. Each card shows various shapes in various numbers, colors, and shades. Turn the cards over in a grid and match three cards within the specific characteristics based on “sameness” or “differentness” – but do it quick because it’s a race to make sets of three! It’s a classic game that will keep players thinking, reasoning and observing while they excitedly grab for cards!

7. Sequence – It’s challenging and exciting but basic enough to grasp the rules of play. Match cards from your hand to the pictures on the game board and place a chip. Place 5 in a row to get a sequence and create 2 sequences to win! You can block opponents with the right cards, use Jacks for wilds and play certain cards to remove opponents chips from the board entirely! Seems hard to win, but you don’t have to do it alone since with more than 2 players you can choose to play in teams!

8. Telestrations– You’ve played the telephone game, where a phrase is passed in whisper from person to person until it barely resembles the original remark? This game is telephone, but with drawings! It’s a fun, light-hearted game where you draw what you see, then guess what was seen to hilarious miscommunication and funny outcomes. Kids will love drawing with the individual dry erase boards, and there’s no artistic ability required – just some stick figures, laughter and a great sense of humor!

9. Doodle Dice – The deck is full of cards that show simple line drawings in varying degrees of difficulty (or number of dice needed to complete the picture). Roll the dice and try to match the lines on the dice with the lines on the cards to form the whole picture. You’ve got three tries to complete the picture and win the card shown. To make it more challenging, you can block opponents turns and steal their cards!

10. Beat the Parents – What kid doesn’t want to trounce their parents in a good old fashioned trivia game?! In this fun version, parents answer questions about kid stuff and kids answer questions their parents should know! See who’s the boss by sending the two mover pieces across the board first.

11. Story Cubes – This truly is a game for any age and any number of players – especially since there are no wrong answers and no right way to play! There are infinite ways to play – from each person telling a portion of one story by using a picture rolled on the dice, to one person telling an entire story using all of the dice. Literally anyone can play as they increase their creative inspiration, imagination, problem solving skills and literacy development.

12. 5 Second Rule – Flip a card to reveal a category, then start the timer because you have only 5 seconds to name 3 things that fit the category! Seems easy, until you’re under the gun. Pretty soon everyone will be calling out hilarious ideas and getting tongue-tied as they make up their own words! It’s fast-paced, easy to learn, fun to play and keeps people laughing!

13. Don’t Say It – Help your team guess the hidden word, without using any of the clue words listed on the card. Be quick so you aren’t buzzed out by the timer! Rack up the points for your team by giving them handy clues and you could win! Easy to learn and play, kids will love this fun guessing game and learn strategy, quick thinking, and literacy skills.

14. Tsuro– Choose tile pieces three at a time from the stack and place them on the board in turns to create a path for your game piece to follow. Be careful, if your path leads off the game board you lose! Be wary of other players – each tile has multiple path options and your opponents tiles could make an easy path for them and a cleverly treacherous path for you if they connect to your own tile. This game is easy to learn and a fairly quick play. There’s strategy and problem-solving involved, which makes it a great fit for a wide age-range.

15. Spontuneous – It’s the only “Name That Tune” style game that crosses age gaps and genres, so literally anyone can play it! Use prompts and be the first to shout out a song with the given word in the lyrics. Sing it out, in tune or not, to get the points! Take turns delivering word “triggers” and singing out songs. Try to stump your opponents! Be the first to move your game piece to the finish in order to win. It’s fun, it’s spontaneous, it’s easy and will have everyone engaged! Plus, build your memory and word association skills.

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest,Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

As children start school and begin acquiring reading skills, designated reading time at home becomes even more important. While your child is learning to be a more competent reader, they are also absorbing more information about a variety of subjects. If you want to foster a love of science in your early elementary aged child, one of the best ways to do this is through books! Picture books are engaging and entertaining, even when they’re full of scientific facts! Not sure where to start? Here are 10 science books 6-9 year olds will love!

Written by the creator of the famed “Math Curse”, this book all about different science concepts is sure to tickle kids’ funny bones! Covering such topics as the food-chain, black holes, combustion, amoebas, metamorphosis, the universe – and more! – in quirky, silly, rhyming verse, this book is pure fun. It combines clever illustration and witty writing to create a scientifically accurate celebration!

Have your children ever wondered why the moon looks different from night to night? This book covers some basic astronomical concepts – like how the moon revolves around the earth. With step-by-step instructions, your kids can conduct an experiment using only an orange, a pencil and a flashlight that will help them visually understand what is happening to the moon. Teach your kids about the phenomena of the moon’s phases!

Magnets affect our lives in many unseen ways! Have you ever watched a child play with magnets? They love the magic behind them! Watch them get even more excited as they read this book and learn all about how magnets work – from compasses and magnetite to the magnetic poles to motors!

The only thing better than reading about science is DOING it! This book is an introduction to many elements of science – including the scientific process! Teach children to observe and evaluate the natural world through short, “bite-sized” activities and demonstrations you can do together. Each one is 15 minutes or less, including set up and clean up, which makes them perfect for kids. Kids get to make predictions, test them and observe results. What’s more, a lot of them involve food, so your kids can eat their experiments!

Young readers will be engaged with the cute and colorful illustrations in this book, while the text is perfect for read aloud fun. It’s an introduction to a very important scientific building block: solids, liquids and gases; and how they can change states of matter! Kids will love learning about ice cubes, water and gas – evaporation and what it all means for the world around them.

Those creepy crawlies you love finding in the lawn? They’re part of science! You’re child will love learning all about worms and how they help soil, compost and plants! The realistic pictures might make them squirm, but they’ll be intrigued by these wiggly wonders!

This awesome book contains 100 science experiments you can do with your kids in ten minutes or less! Most of them seem like magic – like seeing colors that aren’t really there, or staying dry underwater! – but the book also explains the why behind what you’re doing, so your kids will have tons of fun while learning.

This book is chock full of wonderful pictures and interesting facts about the universe in which we live. The book is divided into short chapters that explain basic concepts of space, beginning with what is most familiar to children and moving outward into the universe. The simple text and vivid graphics will grab their attention.

Everyone knows that when you drop or throw something, it will fall to the ground. But WHY does that happen? There’s a mysterious force pulling us all toward the center of the earth, and no one really knows what it is. In this book, you can follow along with an adventurous scientist and his funny dog as they learn all about gravity.

This book uses real life settings with photographs to explain the basic elements of physical science. Through question and response, kids learn all about air resistance, mass and gravity and the connection between force and motion.

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest,Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

Reading books out loud to young children is a great way to introduce new concepts and reinforce learning. Picture books for pre-readers are specifically designed to be read aloud while engaging young kids. Science doesn’t have to be complicated or boring, and reading about scientific ideas together can help kids feel more confident about what they learn. If you’re not sure where to start, here are 10 science books 3-6 year olds will love.

From soil to rocks, hurricanes to airplanes and planets and stars, science is all around us! This book is a charming introduction to science told through rhyming verse and colorful, cute illustrations. Kids will be delighted to learn that science is a part of the world they already know.

This is sure to be a favorite with kids. As the book introduces very basic paleontology through pictures and easy to read text, it also compares specific dinosaurs to familiar objects from today. Kids will retain the information they learn as it is applied to the world around them now.

It’s natural for little kids to wonder how they get sick, and hard for them to relate to something so tiny they can’t even see it! This funny adventure follows a cold germ on it’s journey, and your child can follow it from sniffle to snuffle to sneeze!

There is simply no better way to introduce preschoolers to science than by talking about their senses! After all, what is science but discovery, observation, and hypothesizing through our senses. Kids will love learning all about what they can discover on their own through delightful pictures and simple text. They’ll be ready to see, hear, small, taste and touch their way through the scientific process!

Just think about everything your body can do! This simple introduction to physical fitness and health science is perfect for pre-readers. Kids learn about diet, exercise and health in an easily understandable way. The book also encourages independence by exploring the importance of making good decisions about taking care of their bodies.

Think physics is too difficult for preschoolers to grasp? Think again! This fun book has bright, graphic images and simple text that explains motion in relatable ways. Kids learn about movement, speed, force and inertia by thinking about their own motion.

Did you know that sleep is part of science? It’s true! Kids will particularly enjoy learning about an everyday occurrence that applies to science concepts. Read lots of eye-opening facts about the science of snoozing. Help your kids understand the why behind sleep, and bedtime might be even easier!

Young kids are naturally intrigued by light and its properties, so read this book with them and learn all about the science behind it! Kids can learn how to make shadows, reflections and even rainbows. They’re sure to be engaged by the cute illustrations.

Follow the life cycle of a butterfly with this easy to understand storyline. A caterpillar come to school in a jar and the class watches as it changes – growing larger and creating a chrysalis – but one day the caterpillar is gone! Where did it go? The colorful drawings in this book are eye-catching, and kids will love this basic introduction to metamorphosis.

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest,Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

If you want to foster a love of science in your elementary aged kids, you’ve got to make it readily accessible at home. Science class is great for teaching basics and fundamentals, but supplementing what they learn at school is key to a more well-rounded education and deeper understanding. One great way to reinforce science concepts is by reading books with your children. Here are 10 great Science books 9-11 year olds will want to read over and over!

1. Big Book of Why: 1001 Facts Kids Want to Know,by the editors of TIME for Kids Magazine – It’s no secret, kids are curious critters. Sometimes the questions pile up high and parents have a hard time answering! That’s when this book comes in handy. Why do we have eyebrows? What’s the fastest a human can run? What’s the deepest point on Earth? The highest? Kids can find all of this and more. The book is divided into subjects and covers lots of different scientific areas – humans, animals, environment/nature, technology and space – and it’s full of photos and illustrations to represent the science and history behind each question/answer. Once they start reading, they won’t be able to stop! They’ll want to wow their teachers and parents with all the fun facts they learn.

2. Extreme Weather, by H. Michael Mogil – This book is full to the brim with amazing images and quality diagrams on everything from types of storms to how to observe weather to places known for their specific extreme weather conditions. The images – taken at unique and unexpected angles from up-close in the action will take readers right inside the book. The text answers likely questions about weather and will guide your kids to a better understanding. It’s an engaging follow-up to meteorology basics and a fun read.

3. The Elephant Scientist, by Caitlin O’Connell and Donna M. Jackson – This book chronicles the research and findings of Caitlin O’Connell, an American scientist who traveled to Namibia to research Elephants in their natural habitat. Set in the African scrub desert, this book includes breathtaking photographs that will truly engage young readers. O’Connell’s observations of elephant behavior led to a groundbreaking discovery in her field. For those interested in Biology and Animal Sciences, this is a great representation of the field.

4. Naked Eggs and Flying Potatoes: Unforgettable Experiments That Make Science Fun, bySteve Spangler – This book is written and endorsed by the original creator of the mentos geyser! Inside your kids will find extraordinary science experiments they can do with household items. This isn’t your average science – these tricks are sure to entertain and amaze, all while your kids learn more about the why’s and how’s!

5. Stronger Than Steel: Spider Silk DNA and the Quest for Better Bulletproof Vests, Sutures, and Parachute Rope,by Bridget Heos – In this captivating book, kids enter the Science lab of Randy Lewis whose research centers on spider silk and its benefits and uses in human life applications. Through photographs and exciting factual presentation, kids learn about golden orb weaver spiders, and transgenic alfalfa, silkworm silk, and goats, whose milk contains the proteins to spin spider silk–and to weave a nearly indestructible fiber! They’ll be fascinated to discover the applications: from improving body armor and strengthening parachute tethers, to repairing human bones and ligaments! This is an exciting look into the world of genetic medicine, with some focus given to the ethical concerns of genetic research.

6. Great Scientists, by Jacqueline Fortey – Great Scientists takes a look at the world’s pioneering scientist, their most popular discoveries and relevance to us today. The book begins with Aristotle, highlights Archimedes, William Harvey, Louis Pasteur, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Edwin Hubble (among many others), and ends with Stephen Hawking. It’s an overview of leading discoveries and life’s work in the vast field of science and shows a bit about many subcategories. Each scientist is afforded a summary of work and contribution to the science community and historical effect, some personal information, a timeline, and a photograph. This is a very in depth look at very important leading scientists that have shaped our knowledge and view of the world and a wonderful introduction to the history of science concepts. It is interesting and engaging, and will give kids a desire for more.

7. Something Stinks!by Gail Hedick, When dead fish continue to wash ashore of the Higdon River, a determined young lady decides to find out why. At first mocked by her seventh grade classmates, she eventually persuades them to help in her investigation. They’re led to factories, farms, golf courses and all over town, and their discoveries eventually land them in trouble with law enforcement. Can a group of kids really solve the puzzle and fix the source of the problem? While fictional in content, this book sheds light on serious, real-life issues and has been awarded for its outstanding Science content by the NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Committee.

8. Eruption! Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives, by Elizabeth Rusch – This exciting and action packed book begins by detailing the 1985 eruption of Colombia’s Nevado del Ruiz, one of the most devastating volcanic events known. With amazing real-time photography and engaging sidebar notes and facts, this book chronicles the perils of living in volcano danger zones – as more than one billion people do today. It also recounts the life-saving missions of the International Volcano Crisis Team. This is one book about science they won’t be able to put down!

9. The Periodic Table: Elements With Style,by Simon Dasher and Adrian Dingle – This super witty book introduces kids to Chemistry and the elements in a new and engaging way. The pages are designed to resemble popular networking sites online, and each element is given their own homepage. Kids will love reading through the funny and informative “profiles” – each personally written by the elements themselves – and watching for profile pics that represent their “personalities”!

10. The Elements: a Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe, by Theodore Gray – Do not be put off by the intimidating title or the length of this book. The Elements is the perfect aid in teaching your kids about atoms and elements. Each page is broken into sections for easy visualization – so there is detailed information without overwhelming the eye. Bright, bold photographs of the elements in their true form accompany the text, along with sidebar images that show various real-world applications of each element. Explained in a way that makes elements fun and personal, the text and graphics are easily accessible, even to children. The gorgeous photographs alone will excite readers and ignite an interest in Chemistry.

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest,Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to pull out the paints and doilies, glue and glitter, pipe cleaners and paper and let your kids have a blast! There are many fun Valentine activities for kids that can encourage creativity and inspire learning. Doing some projects together can make this an even more special time of year. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

There are several ideas for Valentine-themed trays at this link that will help with counting and numbers, color recognition, letters and spelling, matching, small motor skills, hand-eye coordination and more! Plus, they look totally fun.

All you need are pipe cleaners and cereal to make these cute and colorful bird feeders to hang outside! Your little ones will love threading Fruit Loops onto pipe cleaners and shaping them into hearts.

Of cups, that is. There’s a game kids can’t resist called “punch a bunch” where you basically fill some paper cups with prizes, cover them with tissue paper and let the kids punch through to the prize. This Valentine themed punch a bunch game, called “My Heart is Bursting” would be awesome at a party with a ton of kids, or used with 14 cups as an advent countdown to Valentine’s Day!

8. Scatter love all over.

Make some love rocks by collecting stones from outside and painting them. Once they’ve dried, deliver them anonymously to places and people who need to feel a little love! Think hospitals, nursing homes, doctor’s offices, bus stops. Place them around park benches and by doors. Line a neighbors walkway. But be sneaky!

9. Shoot some arrows – dessert style!

Create cupid arrows with skewers, sparkly paper and donut holes. Your kids will like making them almost as much as eating them!

These Danish Heart baskets are inexpensive and fairly simple to create. When you’re done weaving them into a heart shape, you can fill them with little treats and drop them off at your loved ones houses! Or hide them under family members’ pillows!

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest,Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

As important as it is to teach your children the basics of science and reinforce the concepts they learn in school, it’s even more important to DO science with your kids! Kids learn best by doing – whether they fail or succeed at a specific task, acquiring information in a meaningful way is always easier when they are fully engaged. Luckily, science is full of fun experiments that help illustrate scientific behaviors and concepts. Here are 8 science activities for 6-9 year olds that will be sure to grab their attention!

This fun demonstration creates an exothermic reaction, and is a great way to teach your kids about chemicals and the way they interact. You can also teach them about catalysts, as it uses yeast as a trigger for the foaming reaction. Kids of all ages will get a kick out of the growing foam – it seems like magic! Until you talk about the science behind it.

This easy peasy science demonstration uses things you’ve got in your pantry, so you can do it today! Break spaghetti into small pieces and watch them sink to the bottom of a glass of water. Add vinegar to the water and see what happens to the spaghetti then! Baking soda and vinegar react chemically, creating carbon dioxide – you can explain the science behind it as you cook the rest of the spaghetti for dinner!

Not only is this a fun science activity, but you can eat the result – something your kids are going to love! All you need is rough string (or wood skewers), water, sugar and food coloring! Set the experiment up in a glass jar so you can watch what happens while it’s going on. Be sure to talk about the key science concepts of saturation, precipitation and evaporation. If you want a scientific explanation for what’s happening, see here. Once you’re done watching your crystals grow and talking about the science, share the rock candy with friends and family!

What kid wouldn’t love making their own slime? Gak is a fun, slimy, play dough type material with interesting qualities and behaviors. The science behind this one involves state of being – solids, liquids, gas, etc. Gak is a non-Newtonian fluid, which is basically a liquid that’s not “normal”. For younger kids, discussion of state of being is likely enough, but if you’d like to delve deeper, you can also talk about polymers, and how molecules form to create them. Read the science behind it here.

This is demonstration creates an awesome visual your kids will love. It’s a colorful, fun way to show them how density works. Basically, you stack liquids of different types which have been treated with food coloring onto each other in a glass jar. The different densities won’t mix, but will separate and show as stripes. Not only is this visually interesting, but it will give you an opportunity to talk about density, and thus volume and mass.

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest,Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

There are so many different aspects and directions a science education can take. There’s chemistry and molecules, health sciences, natural sciences, earth science and geology, meteorology, physics, biology, plant and animal science, machines, electromagnetics, and that’s just to name a few! With all of these different elements, plus the basic knowledge of scientific theory and processes, it’s hard to know where to start with your kids’ science education! Reinforcing what they learn at school is crucial, and you can bolster their education and aid in their success with a little bit of effort. Here are 8 Tips for Supplementing Your Child’s Science Education (Ages 6-9).

1. Focus on fun! At the elementary level, it’s most important to engage kids in a meaningful way – which really means you need to make science fun! Kids are more likely to retain what they learn if they are interested in the lesson. For that reason, keep your talks, activities and experiments short and simple so you won’t lose their attention.

2. Be involved. The best way to engage kids at this age? Lots of visually stimulating demonstrations and hands-on activities that focus on basic concepts in a broad range of science disciplines. That means you’ll have to get engaged, too. Participating in the learning process with your children will show them it’s important and encourage their natural curiosity. So dust off some easy experiments you can do in the kitchen or backyard, read up on the scientific method and make some science lab books with your kids to record data!

3. A family af”fair”. Get everyone involved in scientific discoveries! Host a family science fair! One great way to help kids grow more independent and responsible for their education is to have them tackle projects on their own. So pick a night far enough in advance to give plenty of time for work, research and planning. Advertise the science fair in a fun way and make it a big celebratory deal! Everyone in the family can pick their own project and work on it independently and with others when they need help. For younger kids, you might want to partner up with mom or dad. Invite other family members, friends or neighbors to participate as well. Have everyone give a presentation of their project and make sure that there are appropriate rewards for hard work. Take everyone out for ice cream afterward!

4. Don’t ignore your surroundings. You may do a lot of your educational activities indoors – and why wouldn’t you? But a large part of science involves nature, so make sure to take things outside once in a while! Plan plenty of field trips to the park, the forest, the nature preserve, the hiking trails and even the backyard! There are tons of things you can turn into scientific lessons with very little extra planning or effort. Bugs! Worms! Trees! Plants! Cells! Photosynthesis! Life cycles, recycling, composting, weather, animals, physical forces such as movement, velocity, speed, inertia, geology… and so much more! If your kids come up with questions you can’t answer, that’s great! Write them down together and look up the answer online!

5. Utilize local resources. Chances are there are many resources in your area that perhaps you haven’t even thought about. Look online or with your cities travel bureau for ideas. Great places to take your kids that will lead to scientific discussions and discovery include (but are not limited to): working farms, dairies, recycling plants, paper mills, observatories, planetariums, museums, aquariums, nature parks, or even farmer’s markets. Just check online or call ahead to plan a visit, or ask for a schedule of events. Libraries, nature trails, museums and even local universities often have special events for kids that focus on different elements of science.

6. Communicate. If you’re supplementing the education your child receives at school, it’s a great idea to receive some guidance from the teacher. Don’t be afraid to ask what aspects of science they’re working on in class and what they plan to cover throughout the school year. Teachers can be an amazing resource as well, and can refer you to local classes, activities and places they’ve been made aware of. They can also recommend applicable books, websites and videos they’ve come across.

7. Don’t underestimate yourself. You may not be a professional teacher, but you’ve got the skills, awareness and resources to be a teacher to your children. Use everything at your disposal to help you. Don’t overthink it. Keep it simple and relevant to their lives. A great resource for interactive science games, activities, video clips and more is Topmarks. Individual items are classified by type of science and age range. Also, check Great Websites for Kids which lists fabulous educational websites by topic.

8. Play off your child. Know your child’s interests and hobbies. Relate their science studies to the things they are naturally drawn to. Understand their strengths and weaknesses. Encourage them to work on their weaknesses by playing on their strengths. Don’t push too hard, but don’t underestimate them either.

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest,Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

Art is an important and vastly under-appreciated element of education. Fortunately, there are a myriad of ways you can supplement art education in your home. Reading books to your child is one valuable tool for learning. Children will become better readers and writers while having fun with you and learning about art. There are so many different aspects of art education you could focus on – history, masters, colors, hues, composition, to name just a few – that it’s hard to know what your focus should be. Here are 10 art education books geared to preschoolers that your 3-6 year olds will love!

This cute picture book tells the story of Art and his art. Art is a budding young artist – like so many children. Follow along and watch as Art creates His fun masterpieces all over the pages of the book. With rhyming verse and messy, colorful illustrations, this is sure to be a hit with young kids.

(Dancing with Degas, A Picnic with Monet, A Magical Day with Matisse, In the Garden with Van Gogh)

These books combine rhyming text, short and simple phrasing and beautiful works from master artists. Young kids will learn about Degas, Monet, Matisse and Van Gogh in a fun, engaging and positive way. The artwork is vivid and beautiful and sure to delight even older readers.

“Just make a mark and see where it takes you.” The art teacher says, but Vashti is not convinced. She is not an artist and instead, she jabs angrily at the paper leaving an unremarkable dot. That dot, however, leads her on a completely unforeseen adventure through self-discovery and creativity. Children can learn right along with her as they recognize the value of each person’s unique, creative spirit.

One perfect square. But oh! What a square CAN be! This adventurous story shows kids how a simple square of construction paper can transform into unlimited possibilities. Kids will be excited not only for the next page and the coming surprised, but will love applying this in their own creative lives.

This is no mere book about dots and colors, oh no! Press the dot and the book comes to life, bringing with it a magical, tactile adventure! Young kids will love following the instructions in this interactive book. They’ll press, shake, blow, tilt and jab their way through the pages and find delight in the shapes and vibrant colors.

With endearing drawings, vibrant colors and beautiful text, this book gives kids a lovely life lesson. Mistakes are ok. In fact, mistakes are great! They can help you learn and grow, lead to discoveries, and cultivate creativity. A spill on your masterpiece doesn’t have to ruin it. Look for a way to turn mistakes into art – when you’re drawing or in life.

This hilarious romp through New York City’s Museum of Modern Art will have your kids begging for more! When the main character loses track of his friend, Art, he is directed to MoMA instead. He continues through the museum, looking for his friend, and in the process learns much about famous artists – Matisse, Van Gogh, Picasso and others. Your kids can learn right alongside him with these playful illustrations and clever, comical text.

This is a wonderful introduction to impressionism for very young budding artists with paintings by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, and Degas to name a few. This book is a wonderful take on the average “touch and feel” genre and is a tactile experience for young kids who will love feeling bumpy bark on trees, patting fancy hats and counting fruit. They’ll increase fine motor skills and learn about famous artists at the same time! (See the other “Touch the Art” books in the series as well)

In this creative tale with vibrant, quirky pictures, the unnamed heroine sets out to create the most magnificent thing. She has a plan and knows just what she needs to do. After trying and failing time after time, she decides to give up. What will happen to her creative vision? Is it lost for good? Kids will learn just as much vocabulary from the witty text with fun and functional action words and trilogies of verbs as they will about perseverance, negative emotions and creation.

This whimsical look at art is told through charming illustrations and simple, lighthearted text. Follow the main character on an adventure through an art museum, where each piece speaks to her in a different way. This playful tale captures the emotion and experience of art, and children will better understand how artwork communicates to others and how they can feel energized to create and express themselves.

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest,Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

If you want to start supplementing your child’s math education, but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place! Hands-on math activities should engage your child in a multitude of ways — physically, verbally, aurally and visually, just to name a few. By playing and sharing together, you solidify and reinforce difficult math concepts in a fun way that will help kids love math, not just tolerate it. Here is a list of 10 great options for your 9-11 year old!

A tangram is a puzzle square cut into seven pieces that can be combined to create different figures or shapes. On this site, you can solve different puzzles by turning the shapes, dragging and dropping them into place.

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

Math isn’t all worksheets and flashcards. It can be a lot of fun, too! Reading is a great way to learn together and reinforce concepts. The following 10 books are a perfect place to start when you’re looking for math books for your 9-11 year old.

A book of riddles with tried and true, creative methods for solving math problems by the author. The vibrant illustrations and fun games will be a hit with kids. Using effective and simple methods to solve the riddles will give your child confidence.

One morning, Ethan awakes to find an unusual cat – Odds, stuck on his head. To get rid of the cat, Ethan must win a game of probability, such as pick out two matching socks from his drawer or pull a dime from his coin collection, or some other equally improbable feat. If he can’t beat the odds, Odds won’t budge, and there’s a 100% chance that Ethan will miss his soccer game! With this fun plot, entertaining characters and engaging illustrations, this is book is a surefire hit with kids. It teaches a difficult to grasp concept in a fun way.

Do you ever have one of those days where everything is a problem?? This book follows a girl throughout a day filled with “problems” – MATH problems! A fun look at everyday math. Charming illustrations with a fun and engaging plot line will have kids begging you to read it.

Whimsical illustrations and a cast of hilarious characters flow through this book of rhyming text. Miss Bloom runs the Strawberry Inn and loves to have visitors. One night, she finds herself with a full house. Sensing something is amiss, she discovers her guests hungry for a midnight snack. Will there be enough cake for everyone? A very inviting read for kids.

The Zills family is summoned to Egypt to aid in finding the burial chamber of an ancient pharaoh. When the kids get trapped in a hidden tomb, they must use the geometric hieroglyphics and their knowledge of math to find the burial chamber and escape the tomb. Will they make it out? Do they know their stuff? With a riddle, a mystery and plenty of opportunity for flexing math muscles, kids are sure to find this adventure fun, time and time again.

When a queen demands that her bugs march in even lines, it’s up to Private Joe to divide and conquer. Can he split the ants into lines evenly, so he will not be left out? How many lines will it take? Fun little drawings will invite young readers in, while the story line engages and teaches a valuable lesson in division.

The king wants to give the queen something special for her birthday — not easy when the queen has EVERYTHING. Except…a bed. You see, beds hadn’t yet been invented. The king must figure out “how big is a bed?” – but no one knows! A cute, fun story with quirky illustrations that will have kids guessing and estimating in measurements.

Follow Peter as he tries to stop Rumpelstiltskin and his multiplying stick. Can he unlock the secret and rescue the kingdom from Rumpelstiltskin and his mischief? A fun look at multiplication using familiar characters that kids are sure to love.

A fun take on the times table. The author teaches innovative ways to derive solutions to multiplication problems without rote memorization. The rhyming patterns are easy to remember and the cute illustrations are delightful.

(all photos and links via Amazon)

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

As the school year kicks into high gear, you’re bound to be inundated with homework, calendars, newsletters, flyers and all manner of miscellaneous supplies. It can be hard to keep track of it all, especially while keeping schedules, activities, due dates and big days straight! Keeping yourself and your kids on track all year long can see a monumental task: what you need is a homework station! A homework station can be as simple or elaborate as you wish and should include all the items you and your kids need to stay focused on school. If you’ve got the space, you can add hooks for backpacks, a calendar or a cork board so you never have to miss another important date! Whatever your specific needs, there’s a station on this awesome list for you! So take a look at our homework station inspiration and create a space that suits your family.

This space is everything you could want in your home: clean lines, lots of storage, tucked into a little built-in. If you’ve got the space for a built-in desk, you can’t beat it for homework management!

You can pick this tray up and take it with you! Tucked inside the drawers and boxes are all the supplies your children could possibly need. This is perfect if you haven’t got a designated homework desk, or if your space is limited. Plus, it’s motivational!

The small kitchen cart from Ikea is cute, compact, and totally functional! Cram it full of supplies for school and still have space left on the bottom to stack homework, worksheets, and books. Then you can tuck it away and roll it out when you need it.

This magnetic back to school area can hang right on the side of your fridge! You’ve got everything you need to stay organized right at arms length – including a handy dry erase/magnetic calendar, supplies, and “accountability clipboards.”

If you’ve got a table or desk area, sew up some seat sacks to hang on the back of your chairs! Kids can slip in all of their homework, books, and papers. Add a curtain rod with hooks to store supplies they’ll need.

This little chalkboard is a cute addition to a homework organization center! The trendy baskets keep supplies within reach and you can write notes, reminders, and to-do’s on the chalkboard. Get supplies and note clutter off the tables and counters and up on the wall.

This tabletop homework station can sit front and center on a desk or table and be removed during mealtimes since it’s so portable. No need for a ton of space in order to keep everything looking crisp and neat – and readily available.

If you’ve got an old crib from your kid’s babyhood, repurpose it into a chalkboard desk! The great part about it is that there’s a ton of built in space to hang supplies and needed items. There’s room to spare on all the old crib slats and the desktop provides ample room to work.

Math. It’s necessary, requires higher thought processes, and can be completely intimidating for elementary school-aged kids. If you have the right approach, attitude and mindset as a parent, you can help your child gain not only an understanding and appreciation for math, but perhaps even a fondness. In any case, supplementing your child’s education is crucial to help them feel at ease with abstract math concepts. Here are 8 super helpful tips to help your 9-11 year old with math concepts and learning.

1. Always consider the individual.

All kids learn best in different ways — be it visually, orally, verbally, physically, etc. You can find out more information about each different category at Learning Styles Online. Keep your specific child in mind when considering your approach and remember to tailor their supplemental learning. By this age, a “one size fits all” mentality towards education could hinder your child rather than help them.

Kids have started approaching schoolwork in a more individual way at this point in their development. Worksheets (many which can be found online) might work best for a logical or solitary learner, while active games involving kinesthetics and math concepts would work better for a physical learner.

If you need some help identifying the best ways to teach your child, you can take a “multiple intelligences” quiz online and answer the questions as if you were your child. The following quiz from Edutopia breaks down learning styles into percentages and offers specific information for each style: Multiple Intelligences Learning Styles Quiz.

Also keep in mind your child’s interests and try to fit their math education accordingly. If they love cars, for instance, use games, activities and story problems involving cars. If they love animals, use this as a theme for supplemental materials.

2. Do it together.

Chances are your child will be more appreciative of a unified learning approach, so do math together! Sitting your child down at the computer to play games all by himself won’t have the same impact as learning together and discussing the concepts as you go. So whatever the learning style, whatever the activity, be present. If you find that you yourself are unfamiliar with a concept, look it up together and figure it out. Oxford Owls Jargon Buster is a good place to start if you need help refreshing your memory about math terms.

3. Use a variety of tools, resources and methods.

Even if you’ve recognized your child’s preferred learning style, using the same method or activity repeatedly can cause boredom and disinterest — the exact opposite of our supplemental learning goals. No matter how much your child loves timed tests or flashcards or dominoes, they’ll still appreciate a little variety. Some ideas you can do with the whole family (even older or younger siblings), include: planning and budgeting for family outings, baking, planning a schedule, gardening, crafts that involve measuring and cutting shapes, weighing items, grocery shopping, charting growth with tables and graphs, online math games, video games, iPhone or iPad apps and board games.

4. Focus on key concepts appropriate for age and grade.

Not sure what they are? Email your child’s teacher and ask! Talk with other teachers and parents you know. Here’s a short list for kids ages 9-11 year-olds: telling time (including adding and subtracting times), measurements (inches, yards, feet, miles, grams, pounds, etc. and converting between metric and imperial measurements), calculating with larger or more complex numbers (including up to three digits, decimals, percentages and fractions), understanding shapes (including 3-dimensional shapes and angles), and using different types of charts, tables and graphs.

5. Watch your own attitude.

If you don’t approach supplemental education as a chore to be completed, neither will your kids! Your attitude, more than anything else, shows them what their attitude should be. Keep your comments, actions and reactions to math homework and any math activities you plan positive. If your child doesn’t respond positively to a certain planned activity, take it in stride. Don’t force it, but do come back to it later. Say something like: “It’s ok. We don’t have to do this now. Would you rather help me cut out some shapes for a project I’m working on?” or something similar. Wait a few days before trying again. Whatever you do, don’t give up! And don’t make it “work” but rather “math fun time” or “project time” — something your child can relate to and have desire to do.

6. Make it fun!

It’ll be easier to accomplish tip number five if you’re focusing on making your supplemental activities fun for your child. Play games. Read fun math books. Laugh while you learn.

7. Establish math as regular and routine.

How many times did you ask “When am I ever going to use this in my life?” when you were in a math class? Show your kids that math is a regular, everyday occurrence. You can do this by not only having some type of supplemental activity every day (and it doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out activity – simple is better!), but also by pointing out instances when your child is using math skills when they may not even notice, such as when they are paying someone at the store and counting out money or when they are figuring out how many hours until bedtime.

8. Include the teacher.

Whoever that might be — if they’re home-schooled, this is an easy one, just be sure to include your spouse! Email the teacher for more information about what your child is learning. Ask the teacher for extra worksheets or ideas for activities. Use the teacher as a sounding board if you’re having issues approaching math with your child. He or she might have lots of ideas for engaging students that you haven’t thought of. Your child’s teacher could also have access to or ideas about resources, books, websites, math nights, etc. that they can share with you. If you’re a homeschooling parent, connect with other homeschooling parents for ideas.

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

Most preschool and kindergarten aged children are tactile, kinesthetic and visual learners. Activities that engage these learning styles are the most effective way to supplement your child’s education at home. Whether playing games, using flashcards, singing rhymes and songs or drawing pictures, using a variety of activities will engage your child so you keep their interest and have fun while learning. Need some ideas for age and developmentally appropriate activities for your preschooler? Here are 10 hands-on literacy activities for ages 3-6.

4. Flashcards – You can buy alphabet and phonics flashcards at many stores, even the dollar store. Try Speakaboos online interactive alphabet flashcards. OR, Course Hero is an awesome online source for creating your very own personalized flashcards! It’s mainly used by older students as a study tool, but you can make them for your child and print them out or use them in conjunction with the free app.

5. Manipulatives – Manipulative are small items your kids can use in a ton of different ways to learn things from counting to upper and lowercase letters while developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. They usually come in fun, bright colors which are appealing to kids and teach preschoolers colors as well! You can find manipulatives in lots of stores, and here are a few kits to try out: Alphabet Soup Sorters, Alpha Pops, Letter Construction Set, ABC Lacing Sweets

6.Colorful Catapult – Alter this catapult game from Spoonful by writing letters on plates instead of numbers.

7. Fly Swatter Letters – Delia Creates shares really fun ideas for learning while playing outside. In addition to the fly swatter game, she also shows how to play the letter game with squirt guns, how to write letters with a spray bottle, and how to play Number and Letter Twister!

8. DIY Salt Tray – Check out This Mummas Life for directions on making this salt tray, a fun way for kids to trace letters and practice writing.

9. Letter Walk – This fun take on a scavenger hunt uses super simple, everyday items to teach kids letters and starting sounds, while getting them up and moving around! Check it out on Learning and Playing in 2 Bedrooms or Less.

10. Flashlight Alphabet Game – If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll go nuts over this fun hide and seek game – played in the dark with the aid of an alphabet puzzle and a flashlight. It’s super easy to set up – go get the details on Happily Ever After Mom.

Playing with kids is a great way for them to learn without even realizing it! Are you looking for more fun learning activities for 3-6 year old kids? Try these 8 Hands-On Science Activities!

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com